New York, NY, July 16, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed President Bush's latest expression of the strong U.S. commitment to achieving peace and security for Israel and the Palestinians, saying the President "did not pull any punches in describing the deadly methods used by Hamas to take over control of Gaza," while stating U.S. support for the efforts of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayad.  The League said the President "plainly identified the clear choices facing the Palestinian people between a hopeful future and one of continued despair."

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We welcome President George W.  Bush's expression of the strong U.S. commitment to achieving peace and security for Israel and the Palestinians and for the renewed efforts between the government of Israel and President Mahmoud Abbas to improve the lives of the Palestinian people and work toward a resolution of the longstanding conflict. 

The President plainly identified the clear choices facing the Palestinian people between a hopeful future and one of continued despair. He underscored the willingness of the U.S., the Quartet and others in the international community to support the efforts of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayad to lead the Palestinians to the establishment of a state side by side with Israel in peace and security.

The President is aware that the current situation provides what may be the last opportunity in a long time to realize his commitment to bringing about a peaceful resolution to the decades old conflict.  President Bush did not pull any punches in describing the deadly methods used by Hamas to take over control of Gaza and pointing out the "hopeful option" presented by the leadership of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayad.

The President's announcement of a multi-national conference to be held in the Fall is premature and may not allow the parties enough time to make sufficient progress on the issues between them and could end up complicating the emerging relationship rather than helping.  We believe it would be more productive to allow the parties to work out their differences on a wide range of issues before putting them under the pressure of an international conference.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.